We were treated to a beautiful sunrise Thursday morning on LeConte. The cloud deck covered us early in the morning but lifted about 6:15 a.m. to provide a lovely canvas as our ceiling.

"The more you explore, the more you find that needs exploring." -- Anonymous author, read in The Oregon Trail: An American Saga, David Dary's fine book about the history of America's trail of dreams and heartache.

Hello again to all of you High on LeConte readers. This is Nathan back filling in for a while as Allyson enjoys some down time. Most of us have returned to the mountain following our LeConte Games Victory Tour. Since a ticker-tape parade flies in the face of our anti-litter policy on Mt. LeConte, the benevolent prime minister of LeConte gave all crew members who earned gold medals eight days off to journey anywhere in the world on a no-expenses paid goodwill tour. Of course, the prime minister of LeConte is so generous that I'm sure the same offer would have been made even absent the stirring victory in the LeConte Games earlier in August.

I chose to venture out to some ranches where I'd wrangled in the Front Range of the Rockies in Colorado and in Yellowstone National Park. I rode a little, cleaned up plenty of manure and enjoyed swapping stories with my friends. My only regret is the time flew so fast (and having to spend the night in the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport--my bed on LeConte ranks a far sight better). I took a hike in Grand Teton National Park in between. I also got to see Old Faithful put on a show and watch sunset at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone beside the corral where I rode my wonderful horse, Raven, last summer. I saw every animal in the lyrics to "Home on the Range" and added a handful for good measure.

However, after having my views obscured by wide-ranging wildfire smoke from California in parched Colorado and Wyoming, I flew back into Knoxville and saw the verdant Smokies. I was reminded of what this Tennessee boy has known for a long time--Great Smoky Mountains National Park is no one's consolation prize and plays second fiddle to no one.

Plenty of people have asked about how Hurricane Isaac might affect LeConte. According to the National Weather Service's forecast early this morning, we have about a 30 percent chance of showers Thursday and Friday. If we see any remnants of Hurricane Isaac (and we may not), it would be toward Sunday when the rain chance bumps up slightly. As always, if you're headed up to see us, please bring rain gear regardless.

On Wednesday, we had a high of 67, low of 53 and measured a scant .02 inches of rain (or a heavy dew as one crew member said). The low of 53 marked our warmest morning in three weeks.

We really need some rain, as our spring is looking a little sad. Cajoling our water system through the dry weather is adding hours to our work day. Until our .02 inches of rain yesterday, we had 10 days without measurable rain--an eternity on green LeConte. In July and August, the first two-thirds of each month were quite wet. However, the spigot turned off in the last third of July and August. In July, we received measurable rain in all but three of the first 24 days of the month, while only registering one rainy day in the last seven days of month. From Aug. 1-19, we only had four days without measurable rain. From Aug. 20-29, we've only totaled .02 inches of rain.

What does that mean for the current forecast and early September? Ask a good meteorologist, I have no idea. I will say that September tends to be one of the best times of the year to visit LeConte. So, come on up and see us.

Thanks for reading. Happy trails.

Jessica

8/30/2012 11:23:45 am

"Great Smoky Mountains National Park is no one's consolation prize and plays second fiddle to no one." - AMEN!

Barbara

8/30/2012 11:30:42 am

I hail from Nevada and grew up with cowboys and rodeos, chasing wild horses out of pastures and feeding them in the winter. I miss the wide open spaces but call the Smokys home now and am glad of it. The people are warm and there is so much to do - hiking, biking and just being in the woods. I like your stories. Keep em coming

I will get to take a fall vacation when my son graduates in 3 years. I have talked about this for years. We take a spring and summer vacation, but just crave a fall one.

Sherry

8/30/2012 01:25:49 pm

I 2nd Jessica's AMEN!!!

Denise

8/30/2012 01:28:03 pm

Our thoughts exactly about the lush Smoky Mountains! We vacationed the first two weeks of August this summer in Yellowstone and Grand Tetons...so dry! The bison's were able to throw up quite the dust cloud. Our only regret was that due to the haze and smoke because of fires we didn't get that sparkling photo shot at Oxbow Bend.

Bill Yeadon

8/30/2012 01:55:32 pm

Heading to Gregory Bald Friday and LeConte Saturday. Can't wait.

Sandi

8/30/2012 03:09:45 pm

Just read a book by Orville E. Bach, Jr. (Butch), "TRECKING THE SPIRIT OF YELLOWSTONE." He has worked as a ranger for 31 years there....do you know him? Always enjoy your post about the happenings on LeConte. Hope to be up by October.

Ron

8/31/2012 02:11:01 am

We will be there on Wednesday. We will hope for one more dry day. Last year we were rained out on our September hike to LeConte. The Wednesday hiking group from the Smoky Mountains Hiking Club. We are hiking in the Smokys every Wednesday unless we hike in one of the other great hiking venues in the area.

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LeConte Lodge

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